Sheet stack jogging mechanism

ABSTRACT

A device for jogging or laterally tapping a loosely formed stack of sheets in order to form neat piles in receiving bins having a plurality of vertical rows of shelves. A jogging rod periodically is activated to move the stack of sheets located upon the shelves against a uniform backing device assuring a vertical stack, the jogging rod is movable to a position allowing access to the shelves from the side having the jogging mechanism.

United States Patent Snellman [451 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] SHEET STACKJOGGING MECHANISM [72] Inventor: Donald L. Snellman, Seattle, Wash.

[73] Assignee: Noriin, lnc., Seattle, Wash.

[22] Filed: May 4, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 34,368

[52] 11.5. CI ..271/89, 271/64 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 31/38 [58] Field ofSearch ..271/89, 64

[56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,388,907 6/1968 Snellman eta1. ..271/89 584,633 6/1897 Gottlieb ..27. 1/89 Evans et a1.......27l/89 Onderdonk..... ..271/89 Primary Examiner-J. WegbreitAttorney-Seed, Berry and Dowrey ABSTRACT A device for jogging orlaterally tapping a loosely formed stack of sheets in order to form neatpiles in receiving bins having a plurality of vertical rows of shelves.A jogging rod periodically is activated to move the stack of sheetslocated upon the shelves against a uniform backing device assuring avertical stack, the jogging rod is movable to a position allowing accessto the shelves from the side having the jogging mechanism.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENI'EDAM 2 5 I972 SHEET 10F 3 DONALD L.SNELLMAN INVENTOR.

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PKG-=11 ATTORNEYS PATENTEBAPRES I972 3, 658 324 SHEET 2 UF 3 FI 3 DONALDLSNELLMAN INVENTOR.

BY LLM @y ATTORNEYS PATENTEI] APR 2 5 1'9??? DONALD L, SNELLMAN-INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates tosheet stack formers and more particularly to a device for joggingorlaterally tapping a loosely formed stack of sheets in order to form aneat pile. More particularly, the invention relates. to a joggingmechanism for simultaneously jogging a plurality of individual stacks ina vertical row.

The present invention has particular utility in a device such as acollating system orthe like wherein a plurality of stacks of sheets arerapidly formed. In such instances, receiver bins are used which employone or a plurality of vertical rows of shelves which are successivelyaligned with a collator distributor. The distributor delivers apredetermined number of sheets to each one of a preselected number ofvertically arranged I receiver trays or compartments. Because of therapid feeding,

which is accomplished automatically, the stack of sheets and individualtrays are often extremely uneven.

The present invention provides a jogger or sheet guide for receiving binshelves of the character described. The invention provides asufficiently wide reception area for the rapidly depositedsheets. and,after loose stacks are formed, laterally taps or. jogs the stacks toeven up the piles which may then be removed from the receiver. Thejogging or lateral tapping means is sodesigned that it may be rapidlyand easily moved out of the position in front of the shelves allowingaccess to'the piles of paper from the same side of the shelves whichcontains the jogging means.

The jogging may be done simultaneously with and may be a function of themovement of the distributor means which carries the sheets to thevarious preselected vertically arranged trays or alternatively may beperiodically actuated by any other preselected means.

In the prior art it has been the practice to provide either fixed shelfwalls or laterally adjustable side walls for the reception of differentsizes of sheets where receiver trays have been used. With the presentinvention, the jogging rods which form the lateral guides for theincoming sheets not only function to tap the pile of sheets to obtain aneat stack but are also initially adjustable for varying widths of paperand take the place of the side walls.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a jogging apparatusfor use with a vertical stack of sheet receiving trays wherebythejogging means may be easily moved allowing access to the shelves.

In accordance with this object and as a feature of the present inventionthere is provided in combination with a sheet receiving shelf, a joggerwhich will periodically tap the edges of a plurality of sheets stackedupon the shelf, the jogger is pivoted about a point whereby it can bemoved to a position where it is not impeding access to the shelf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet joggingmeans for use upon a sheet receiving shelf wherein the jogging means isadapted to tap sheets from either side or from both sides and to allowfull access to the shelves likewise from either side, greatly increasingthe versatility of the apparatus.

I In accordance with this object and as a feature of the presentinvention, there is provided a jogging means adapted for use incombination with a shelf, the jogging means being located and actuatedsimultaneously on both sides of the shelf. At any time either of thejogging apparatuses may be moved to a position not impeding access tothe shelf allowing removal of the stacks from that side of the shelf.

The means by which the foregoing objects and other advantages, whichwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, are accomplished is set.forth in the following specification and claims and illustrated inthedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view,partially broken away, of the jogging mechanism in combination with asheet receiving shelf;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the jogging apparatus ofFlG. I;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a jogging apparatus wherein a single jogger isincorporated;

FIG. 5 is a perspective environmental view showing the sheet receivingshelf and attached jogger in the position in a cabinet including acollator distributor means; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a jogger mechanism having four jogging members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS As seen in FIG. I, the sheetreceiving bin denoted generally as 2 has mounted therein a plurality ofevenly spaced trays or shelves 4 mounted within a framework having avertical end 6 with spaced sections and frame members 8. The framemembers 8 and the end 6 provide vertical support for the shelves or bins4. Completing the enclosure is a floor member 10 providing support forthe jogging apparatus and a top member 12 having mounted thereuponU-shaped rails 14 for cooperation witha track 16 having a slot toreceive one leg of the U, said track being mounted within a cabinetstructure such as shown in FIG. 5. The track 16 and rail 14 may bemounted by any means known in the art, such mounting deemed to be notcritical in the present invention so therefore not shown or particularlydescribed.

Mounted to the bottom side of the floor 10 is the actuating device forthe jogger. Reference being had to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in combination, acomplete structure may be most readily understood. In the preferredembodiment, the jogging action is the result of a rotary motiondeveloped by motor 20 having normal electrical connections which drivesan eccentric cam 22 imparting a reciprocal motion to the cam follower24. Cam follower 24 is mounted upon an elongated flat arm 26 which ispivotally mounted at its opposite end serving as a second class lever toan adjustable block member 28, later hereinafter described. Pivotallymounted to the central portion of arm 26 I is an irregularly shaped flatlever arm 30 having four pivotal connection points. Lever arm 30 islikewise mounted to a block 32 hereinafter later described and at yetanother corner has pivotally mounted thereto a bar 34. Lever arm 30 alsohas a tail portion designed to clear the cam follower 24 and haspivotally mounted thereto yet another flat bar or link 36. Pivotallymounted to the opposite end of bar or link 34 is a flat triangularshaped linking member 38 which has the pivotal connection to bar 34 atone of its vertices and a pivotal connection to a support bar for thejogger 40 at another of its vertices. A locking element 42 at the thirdvertex of link 38 is designed to hold the support bar 40 in positionalong the side of the triangle. The support bar 40 extends outwardlyfrom the triangular member 38 normally locked with the locking element42 in a position along the side of member 38 and terminates in anupwardly extending rod 44 which, as seen in FIG. 1, extends the entirevertical dimension of the shelf structure to terminate in another link46 which is pivotally connected to the top of the cabinet at point 48.

It is to be noted at this point that the locking mechanism 42 comprisesa pin extending vertically upwardly from the triangular shaped member38. The upper link 46 is attached to the top at 12 at point 48 in such amanner as to allow vertical movement of the link. To unlock the rod 44and move it out of its normal position extending in front of theplurality of bins, the operator must provide a vertical movement to therod 44 and its attached links lifting it above the top of the pinportion of locking mechanism 42 and then swing it outwardly to aposition as shown in phantom leftwardmost in FIG. 2.

Referring again specifically to FIG. 2, there is shown in phantom linesat the outermost extreme position which will be taken by the joggermechanism when in normal process. In operation with the motor running,the jogger bar 44 would periodically move from the phantom position asshown to the solid position as shown, bumping the sheets of paper into aseen that it is connected to a mechanism similar to that hereinabovedescribed. The outer end of link 36 is pivotally connected to atriangularly shaped link 50 at one of its vertices. At another vertex ofthe triangle there is pivotally connected a flat bar or link 52 whichextends along the side of the triangle to be locked to the triangle 50at point 54 similarly as hereinabove described with respect to triangle38 and link 40. The bar 52 then extends further outwardly of thetriangle 50 to terminate at a connection with a rod 56 which extendsvertically upwardly to a lever 58 and a pin 60 similar to thatpreviously described with respect to jogging rod 44.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, it can be seen at the right handside of the Figure there is a rod 62 mounted for rotation between thetwo side walls at the base of the shelf structure. Located at one end ofthe rod but not limited thereto is a handle 64, it being understood thatthe handle could be at either end or perhaps at both ends. Mounted tothe rod 62 at a portion of the rod having threads formed thereon isblock 32 having complementary threads formed therein. Thus it can beseen that a rotary motion of rod 62 will effect a linear movement ofblock 32 along the rid. The movement of block 32 will, be means of thelinkage described above, adjust the spatial relationship of the joggingrods 44 and 56. As a safety factor, block 28 is slidably mounted uponrod 62 and abuts compression spring 66. If the mechanism becomes jammed,link 26 will pivot about its point of attachment to 30 transmitting themotion imparted by eccentric 22 to the spring 66 without damage to thestructure. Spring 66 must be of sufficient stiffness to serve as thebase for the fulcrum of link 26 during normal usage.

As plainly seen in FIG. 1, the rods 44 and 56 are located upon oppositesides of the bin, bridging the openings between the shelves. The shelveshave a configuration whereby they do not interfere with the movement ofthe rods toward and away from each other. Sufficient clearance isprovided to accommodate the spatial adjustment between the rods enablingthe structure to accommodate sheets of a variety of sizes. Thestructure, as described, thusly will perform its function regardless ofhow many shelves are actually being used in the given collatingoperation.

The rectangular shaped opening to the left of the shelf structure asseen in FIG. 2 and denoted generally as 68, is to accommodate a backpart which will extend the full vertical distance of the shelf structureand will be in a preferred embodiment a resilient rubber member which ispivotally secured at both the top and the bottom without anyintermediate suspension. This mounting means allows a harmonic motion tobe set up within the rubber member as the sheets are fed along thevarious trays and bump against the rubber member. The rubber member isnot shown, not being considered essential to the present invention;however, it is the means by which the preferred embodiment accomplishesthe jogging in the other dimension which assures smooth even stacking ofthe sheets. The sheets are fed from the front of the shelving, slidealong the smooth surface and then bump against the rubber member whichas noted above is set into a harmonic motion providing a continual jogto the sheets as they are placed in position.

As was noted above, the shelf structure shown in FIG. 1 is adapted to bemounted in a cabinet structure such as shown in FIG. 5. The cabinetstructure would include as a part thereofa distributor means. Toaccommodate sheets of various sizes and perhaps even different models ofthe distributor means, an adjustment of the shelf structure forwardlyand backwardly within the cabinet is necessary. This adjustment isaccomplished by means of the handle 70 located at the top part of theshelf structure of FIG. 1 which is attached to a rod 72 pivotallyconnected to the top of the cabinet at 74. The rod 72 has a bend at 76to interact with a circular end portion 78 on a spring biased lever 80such that the spring bias lever 80 and the rod 72 with its incorporatedbend 76 operate as an overcenter link locking the shelf in positionduring the collating operation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the inventive structure isreadily adapted to a single jogger wherein the sheets are jogged againsta back panel 82 instead of against another jogging rod as hereinabovedescribed. Basically, the structure is identical, having an eccentriccam 84 mounted to a motor located beneath the floor of the shelfstructure. A cam follower 86 interacts with cam 84 and is connected to abar 88 pivotally connected to the adjustable block 90 which serves as asecond class lever. A triangular linking member 92 is pivotallyconnected to the link 88, to another of the adjustable blocks 93 andanother link 94. The opposite end of link 94 is connected to atriangular shaped link 96 at one corner thereof. The other two verticesof the triangular member 96 provide the attaching point for link 98which supports the jogging rod 102 and the locking means 100 whichduring use retains the bar 98 along the side of triangular member 96.The motion imparted to the linkage by the eccentric cam 84 istransmitted by the linkage to the rod 102 which periodically movestoward the stack of sheets bumping the stack into alignment.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the shelf structure hasbeen slightly altered, said shelf 106 including a pair of indentations108 and 110. As described above there will be a motor mounted beneaththe floor which will drive an eccentrically mounted can 112 which inturn drives the cam follower 114 connected to link 116, a second classlever imparting a reciprocal motion thereto. Link 116 is connected atits opposite end to an adjustable block 118 similar to that describedabove. Intermediate of the two ends of link 116 there is connected atpoint 120 an irregularly shaped linking member 122 having a pivotalconnection to adjustable block 124 at one corner. At another corner ofmember 122 is a pivotal connection to a link 126 which extendsrearwardly of the shelf to pivotally connect to yet another link ofirregular shape 128 which has pivotally connected thereto arm 130. Arm130 is locked to another portion of link 128 by the lock 132 similar tothat described above. At yet another portion of irregular link 128 is apivotal connection to a rod 134 which extends back toward the front ofthe shelf mechanism where it is connected to link 136. At the outermostends of links 130 and 136 are jogging rods respectively 138 and 140serving the same purpose as hereinabove described.

A similar linking structure is driven off another portion of irregularlyshaped link 122. Link 142 is pivotally connected to link 122 andpivotally connected to another irregularly shaped link 144 havingmounted thereupon link 146 interlocked at 148 and having ajogging rod150 connected thereto. Another portion of link 144 is pivotallyconnected to a link 152 extending back toward the rear of the shelfstructure and connected to link 154 pivoted about link 156 and havingmounted to its outer end a jogging rod 158.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the shelfstructure generally denoted as 2 will be mounted in an at tractivecabinet 160 having appropriate controls 162 and including as a portionthereof a distributor generally denoted as 164 which will take thesheets of paper from a print out mechanism, said sheets being fedthrough openings 166. It is to be understood that the distributormechanism may well be ofthe type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,254 orany modification thereof wherein the distributor reciprocates verticallyalong the plurality of shelves distributing the sheets appropriatelytherein.

As can be seen, the present structure of a jogging mechanism isassociation with a plurality of trays which form a sheet receiving shelfis such that the structure may be modified to have either a singlejogger, a pair of joggers located on opposite sides of the shelfstructure, or a system wherein there are four joggers on the shelf. Eachof the modification is readily adapted to be mounted within a similarcabinet structure 160 and the various structures while operatingessentially identically offer advantages for sheets of various lengthsand/or thickness. Applicant's jogger mechanism thereby is a universalstructure which may be readily used to handle anyone of a multiplicityof collating jobs when used in conjunction with a distributor such asthat described in the Patent noted hereinabove.

The embodiments of the inventionin which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. In combination with a sheet receiving shelf adapted to receive aplurality of sheets and form uniform stacks therefrom, a sheet stackjogging means comprising;

backup means mounted on the side of the shelf against which the stacksmay be aligned.

a jogging apparatus mounted for movement to and from the shelf at afirst position on the opposite side of the shelf from the backup means,said jogging apparatus movable from the first position whereat itperiodically jogs the sheets and a second position whereat it issubstantially removed from the side of the shelf allowing easy access tothe stack, and

linking means connecting said bar to an eccentrically mounted, motordriven wheel whereby the bar is periodically moved, when in its firstposition, to and from the shelf moving the sheets into contact with thebackup means assuring an even stack. I

2. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein the backup means is a secondjogging apparatus whereby the stacks are jogged from both sides of theshelf and similarly can be removed from both sides of the shelf.

3. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein the jogging apparatus is asingle bar.

4. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein the jogging apparatus is aplurality of bars operating simultaneously.

5. A jogging means as in claim 1 and further including an ajdustingdevice whereby the space between the jogging apparatus and the backupmeans may be varied to accommodate sheets of varying sizes.

6. A jogging means as in claim 1 and further including a means forabsorbing the movement of the source of reciprocal motion without damageto the structure.

7. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein the linking means and thesource of motion are mounted beneath a bin comprising a plurality ofstacked shelves and the jogging apparatus extends vertically upwardlysubstantially the entire vertical dimension of the shelf.

8. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein ready access may be had to bothsides of the shelf for removal of the stacks whereby the device is ofuniversal utility.

9. A jogging means as in claim 4, wherein each of the bars is driven bythe source of reciprocal motion and are discrete.

10. In combination with a sheet receiving shelf adapted to receive aplurality of sheets and form uniform stacks thereon, a sheet stackjogger comprising; backup means mounted on one side of the shelf againstwhich the stacks may be aligned, jogging means mounted adjacent theshelf opposite of and for movement toward and away from the backupmeans, an independent source of reciprocal motion mounted to the shelfand linked to the jogging means, said linking means comprising levermeans mounted to receive motion from the source and having a fulcrumwhich is adjustable relative to the shelf to vary the distance betweenthe jogging means and the backup means, rigid plate means pivotallymounted to the lever to receive motion therefrom and adjustably mountedto said shelf structure for selective positioning relative to thefulcrum of said lever means, rigid linking means interconnecting theplate means and the jogging means whereby the plate movement istransmitted to the jogging means and the adjustment of the fulcrum ofthe plate relative to the shelf varies the distance between the joggingmeans and the backup means allowing use of the mechanism with paper of avariety of sizes.

11. A combination as in claim 10, wherein the jogging means comprises asingle vertical bar on one side of the shelf and the backing means is afixed surface.

12. A combination as in claim 10, and further including at least onemoveable pivot to absorb the reciprocal motion in the eventof amechanical jam. I

13. A combination as in claim 10, wherein the jogging means is adaptedfor movement to a position where it does not impede removal of thestacks of material.

14. A combination as in claim 10, wherein the backup means comprises avertical bar which is reciprocal toward and away from the shelfproviding a surface against which the stack may be aligned and further,providing a tapping action against the stack to assure proper alignment.

1. In combination with a sheet receiving shelf adapted to receive aplurality of sheets and form uniform stacks therefrom, a sheet stackjogging means comprising; backup means mounted on the side of the shelfagainst which the stacks may be aligned. a jogging apparatus mounted formovement to and from the shelf at a first position on the opposite sideof the shelf from the backup means, said jogging apparatus movable fromthe first position whereat it periodically jogs the sheets and a secondposition whereat it is substantially removed from the side of the shelfallowing easy access to the stack, and linking means connecting said barto an eccentrically mounted, motor driven wheel whereby the bar isperiodically moved, when in its first position, to and from the shelfmoving the sheets into contact with the backup means assuring an evenstack.
 2. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein the backup means is asecond jogging apparatus whereby the stacks are jogged from both sidesof the shelf and similarly can be removed from both sides of the shelf.3. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein the jogging apparatus is asingle bar.
 4. A jogging means as in claim 1 wherein the joggingapparatus is a plurality of bars operating simultaneously.
 5. A joggingmeans as in claim 1 and further including an ajdusting device wherebythe space between the jogging apparatus and the backup means may bevaried to accommodate sheets of varying sizes.
 6. A jogging means as inclaim 1 and further including a means for absorbing the movement of thesource of reciprocal motion without damage to the structure.
 7. Ajogging means as in claim 1 wherein the linking means and the source ofmotion are mounted beneath a bin comprising a plurality of stackedshelves and the jogging apparatus extends vertically upwardlysubstantially the entire vertical dimension of the shelf.
 8. A joggingmeans as in claim 1 wherein ready access may be had to both sides of theshelf for removal of the stacks wherebY the device is of universalutility.
 9. A jogging means as in claim 4, wherein each of the bars isdriven by the source of reciprocal motion and are discrete.
 10. Incombination with a sheet receiving shelf adapted to receive a pluralityof sheets and form uniform stacks thereon, a sheet stack joggercomprising; backup means mounted on one side of the shelf against whichthe stacks may be aligned, jogging means mounted adjacent the shelfopposite of and for movement toward and away from the backup means, anindependent source of reciprocal motion mounted to the shelf and linkedto the jogging means, said linking means comprising lever means mountedto receive motion from the source and having a fulcrum which isadjustable relative to the shelf to vary the distance between thejogging means and the backup means, rigid plate means pivotally mountedto the lever to receive motion therefrom and adjustably mounted to saidshelf structure for selective positioning relative to the fulcrum ofsaid lever means, rigid linking means interconnecting the plate meansand the jogging means whereby the plate movement is transmitted to thejogging means and the adjustment of the fulcrum of the plate relative tothe shelf varies the distance between the jogging means and the backupmeans allowing use of the mechanism with paper of a variety of sizes.11. A combination as in claim 10, wherein the jogging means comprises asingle vertical bar on one side of the shelf and the backing means is afixed surface.
 12. A combination as in claim 10, and further includingat least one moveable pivot to absorb the reciprocal motion in the eventof a mechanical jam.
 13. A combination as in claim 10, wherein thejogging means is adapted for movement to a position where it does notimpede removal of the stacks of material.
 14. A combination as in claim10, wherein the backup means comprises a vertical bar which isreciprocal toward and away from the shelf providing a surface againstwhich the stack may be aligned and further, providing a tapping actionagainst the stack to assure proper alignment.